HC decision to award life imprisonment in murder case upheld

New Delhi, Apr 4 (UNI) The Supreme Court has upheld the Andhra Pradesh High Court judgment confirming the life imprisonment awarded to 18 people convicted for murdering two supporters of rival political factions in the state.

A bench comprising Mr Justice K G Balakrishnan and Mr Justice Arun Kumar dismissed yesterday the appeals filed by Gonchi Rajashekhar Reddy and others challenging their conviction and sentence by the High Court.

In all 28 accused were tried for the murder of Sanjeeva Reddy and Narsimha Reddy on the night of December 10, 1997 to avenge the killing of one of their supporters on the outskirts of Susankota village The court, while dismmissing the appeals, observed,''we see no reason to take a view different than the courts below and conviction and sentence entered against all the appellants are only to be confirmed. The appeals are without any merit and therefore dismissed.'' Erlier, Nine of the accused were acquitted by the trial court.

UNI AKS SC GC1943